The Iwo Jima Flag Raisers

The Six Iwo Jima Flag Raisers

There are six Flag Raisers on the famous Iwo Jima photo. Four in the front line and two in back. The front four are (left to right) Ira Hayes, Franklin Sousley, Harold Schultz and Harlon Block.

The back two are Michael Strank (behind Sousley) and Rene Gagnon (behind Schultz). Strank, Block and Sousley would die shortly afterwards. Bradley, Hayes and Gagnon became national heroes within weeks.

2016 update: The Marine Corps investigated and determined that Harold Henry Schultz was among the 6 in the famous photograph of the 2nd flag raising instead of John Bradley.

Mike Strank

Mike Strank was born in 1919 in Jarabenia, Czechoslovakia. He died in 1945 in Iwo Jima, Japan. Their leader and Sergeant, it was Mike who got the order to climb Mt. Suribachi. Mike picked his “boys” and led them safely to the top. Mike explained to the boys that the larger flag had to be raised so that “every Marine on this cruddy island can see it.” It was Mike who gave the orders to find a pole, attach the flag and “put’er up!”

At home as a boy, Mike was studious, had a photographic memory, played the French Horn and once slugged a baseball out of Points Stadium in Johnstown. In 1936, Mike ran down to the river to see for himself the terrible Johnstown flood. He brought this report back to his family: “Don’t worry–it will recede.”

Mike’s right hand is the only hand of a flagraiser not on the pole. His right hand is around the wrist of Franklin Sousley, helping the younger man push the heavy pole. This is typical of Mike, the oldest of the flagraisers, always there to help one of his boys. Two months before the battle Mike’s Captain tried to promote him but Mike turned it down flat: “I trained those boys and I’m going to be with them in battle,” he said.

Mike died on March 1, 1945. He was hit by a mortar as he was diagramming a plan in the sand for his boys. Mike is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Harlon Block

Harlon Block was born in 1924 in Yorktown, Texas. He passed away in 1945 in Iwo Jima, Japan. Harlon was an outgoing daredevil with many friends at Weslaco High School. A natural athlete, Harlon led the Weslaco Panther Football Team to the Conference Championship. He was honored as “All South Texas End.” Harlon and twelve of his teammates enlisted in the Marine Corps together in 1943.

Harlon was Sgt. Mike’s second-in-command. He took over the leadership of his unit when Sgt. Mike was killed. Harlon was killed by a mortar blast hours later on March 1 at the age of 21. When his mother Belle saw the Flag Raising Photo in the Weslaco Newspaper on Feb. 25, she exclaimed, “That’s Harlon” pointing to the figure on the far right. But the US Government mis-identified the figure as Harry Hansen of Boston. Belle never wavered in her belief that it was Harlon insisting, “I know my boy.” No one–not her family, neighbors, the Government or the public–had any reason to believe her. But eighteen months later in a sensational front-page story, a Congressional investigation revealed that it was Harlon in the photo, proving that indeed, Belle did “know her boy.” Harlon is buried beside the Iwo Jima Monument in Harlingen, Texas.

Franklin Sousley

Franklin Sousley was born Sept. 19, 1925 in Hilltop, KY, and he died March 21, 1945 Iwo Jima, Japan. Franklin was a red-haired, freckle-faced “Opie Taylor” raised on a tobacco farm. His favorite hobbies were hunting and dancing. Fatherless at 9, Franklin became the main man in his mother’s life. Franklin enlisted at 17 and sailed for the Pacific on his 18th Birthday. All that’s left of Franklin is a few pictures and two letters Franklin wrote home to his mother:

————July 1944, Letter from Training Camp: “Mother, you said you were sick. I want you to stay in out of that field and look real pretty when I come home. You can grow a crop of tobacco every summer, but I sure as hell can’t grow another mother like you.”

————Feb. 27, 1945 Letter from Iwo Jima:
“My regiment took the hill with our company on the front line. The hill was hard, and I sure never expected war to be like it was those first 4 days. Mother, you can never imagine how a battlefield looks. It sure looks horrible. Look for my picture because I helped put up the flag. Please don’t worry and write.”

Franklin was the last flag-raiser to die on Iwo Jima, on March 21 at the age of 19. When word reached his mother that Franklin was dead, “You could hear her screaming clear across the fields at the neighbor’s farm.” Franklin is buried at Elizaville Cemetery, Kentucky.

Ira Hayes

Ira Hayes was born January 12, 1923 in Sacaton, Arizona, and died January 24, 1955 in Bapchule, Arizona. Ira Hayes was a Pima Indian. When he enlisted in the Marine Corps, he had hardly ever been off the Reservation. His Chief told him to be an “Honorable Warrior” and bring honor upon his family. Ira was a dedicated Marine. Quiet and steady, he was admired by his fellow Marines who fought alongside him in three Pacific battles.

When Ira learned that President Roosevelt wanted him and the other survivors to come back to the US to raise money on the 7th Bond Tour, he was horrified.

To Ira, the heroes of Iwo Jima, those deserving honor, were his “good buddies” who died there. At the White House, President Truman told Ira, “You are an American hero.” But Ira didn’t feel pride. As he later lamented, “How could I feel like a hero when only five men in my platoon of 45 survived, when only 27 men in my company of 250 managed to escape death or injury?”

The Bond Tour was an ordeal for Ira. He couldn’t understand or accept the adulation . . . “It was supposed to be soft duty, but I couldn’t take
it. Everywhere we went people shoved drinks in our hands and said ‘You’re a Hero!’ We knew we hadn’t done that much but you couldn’t tell them that.” (More about Ira below . . .)

Rene Gagnon

Rene Gagnon, was born in Manchester, N.H. on March 7, 1925, and died in Manchester, N.H. on October 12, 1979. Rene Gagnon was the youngest survivor and the man who carried the flag up Mt. Suribachi. He was the first survivor to arrive back in the US. (More about Rene below . . .)

John Bradley

John Bradley was born July 10, 1923 in Antigo, WI, and passed away January 11, 1994 in Antigo, WI. “Doc” Bradley was a Navy Corpsman who “just jumped in to lend a hand.” He won the Navy Cross for heroism and was wounded in both legs. Bradley, a quiet, private man, gave just one interview in his life. In it he said . . . “People refer to us as heroes–I personally don’t look at it that way. I just think that I happened to be at a certain place at a certain time and anybody on that island could have been in there–and we certainly weren’t heroes–and I speak for the rest of them as well. That’s the way they thought of themselves also.” (More about John below . . .)

Ira Hayes in Later Years

Ira in later years . . . Ira went back to the reservation attempting to lead an anonymous life. But it didn’t turn out that way . . . “I kept getting hundreds of letters. And people would drive through the reservation, walk up to me and ask, ‘Are you the Indian who raised the flag on Iwo Jima?”

Ira tried to drown his “Conflict of Honor” with alcohol. Arrested as drunk and disorderly, his pain was clear . . . “I was sick. I guess I was about to crack up thinking about all my good buddies. They were better men than me and they’re not coming back. Much less back to the White House, like me.”

In 1954, Ira reluctantly attended the dedication of the Iwo Jima monument in Washington. After a ceremony where he was lauded by President Eisenhower as a hero once again, a reporter rushed up to Ira and asked him, “How do you like the pomp & circumstances?” Ira just hung his head and said, I don’t.”

Ira died three months later after a night of drinking. As Ira drank his last bottle of whiskey he was crying and mumbling about his “good buddies.” Ira was 32.

Rene Gagnon in Later Years

Rene Gagnon in later years . . . Rene Gagnon carried the flag up Mt. Suribachi. Rene was modest about his achievement throughout his life. Rene is honored with a special room in New Hampshire’s prestigious Wright Museum. Rene is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, the Flag Raiser buried closest to the Marine Corps Memorial.

John Bradley in Later Years

John Bradley in later life . . . “Of the surviving Flag Raisers, only Bradley was successful in putting his life back together after the war.” —From the best-selling “Immortal Images” by Tedd Thomey

John Bradley returned to his home town in the Midwest after the war, prospered as the owner of a family business, and gave generously of his time and money to local causes. He was married for 47 years and had eight children. While Bradley had a public image as a war hero, he was a very private person. He avoided discussion of his war record saying only that the real heros were the men who gave their lives for their country.

The Global Media reported the death of a World War II icon on January 11, 1994 at the age of 70. But his hometown newspaper best captured the essence of Bradley’s life after the war: “John Bradley will be forever memorialized for a few moments action at the top of a remote Pacific mountain. We prefer to remember him for his life. If the famous flag-raising at Iwo Jima symbolized American patriotism and valor, Bradley’s quiet, modest nature and philanthropic efforts shine as an example of the best of small town American values.” —Editorial, “The Antigo Daily Journal”

656 thoughts on “The Iwo Jima Flag Raisers”

Comment navigation

when my brother lewis thomas loose came home, he told me that the people were having a hard time putting the flag up; so he ran up and helped them.
does anyone remember my brother doing this???
i wrote once before and i remember that they had inserted another for this? they told me that he could have been the one in the back?
sincerely,
MARGARET LOOSE JARVIS

Freedom has and will always be paid for with the blood of patriots…May the flag raisers of Iwo Jima and all others who died be honored as heros for ever..Also, please go and read how the flag remained standing at Fort McHenry the night Francis Scott Key wrote the poem that eventually became the words to our national anthem…Always protect our freedom because it is not cheap!!

My father was scout/fwd. observer in the flag-raiser battalion (2nd bn. of the 28th Reg./5th Division.) Scouts and radiomen platoons were attached to the HQ company. That’s how Dad knew Ira Hayes, they tented near each other. He knew the three survivors. Bradley was around often and had a profound effect on Dad, who described tough Marines changing their tones and profanity when Bradley was around, being extremely positive in some way Dad couldn’t really define, but sure remembered. Rennie Gagnon was the flag raiser he was closest to.
Given that those two platoons were attached to HQ company (think it was Comp. ‘H’) – how can Ira’s company have lost so many, when most HQ weren’t in battle, though still at risk. Did the radio platoon actually lose 40 of 45 as KIA’s? Seems hard to grasp and unconfirmed by the regiment muster I have for the first half of the battle (20 years and haven’t ever seen the muster for the second half.) Dad passed, almost 91, in Oct. ’15. As the most honest man I’ve known, the stories he told me were staggering. Unsurprising that so many went virtually silent about Iwo, after the war. How could you tell the truth you could barely survive….

These 6 men didn’t “Take the Knee” and disrespect our flag and country like the deplorable, brain-dead, ungrateful, ingrate professional athletes are doing today! What has happened to my once great country?!?!?!

Try reading the article, the flag was and is a symbol to fight on! For the rights freedom of the American democracy! The men taking a knee are saying ” our rights , our freedom is being taking away! It’s not disrespect it’s disappointment in our government

You are 100% correct it is disgusting that anyone would take a knee during our country’s national anthem. Also thank Alejandro Villanueva an ex army ranger who plays for the Pittsburgh steelers who alone stood for the national anthem. God bless him and all the brave men and women who serve our country today.

his name was Tuttle.
The sailor with the second flag was an Alan Wood on LST 779.
More surprises coming your way if my work succeeds. Plans in the USMC
system heading to WDC Pentagon for final acceptance of a new Iwo Jima Flag Raising Monument on the Marine base where all of the 425,000 trained to take island after island after island and gain a stranglehold on mainland Japan. Of course Iwo
Jima was a way to get closer to Japan to launch bombers, but also to save bombers
and their crews from crashing into the Pacific, over 2100 planes in all managed
to land on Iwo Jima , the first on March 4, 1945.

God bless the USMC and all our armed services wherever you are, wherever our flag flies all over the globe.

Laura Dietz, Founder/ Trustee
Iwo Jima Monument West 501c3http://www.marinesoniwojima.com/
VISIT TO SEE THE BRILLIANT DESIGN/FEATURES THAT WILL MAKE THE THIS THE MOST SEEN MILITARY/MARINE LANDMARK ON THE PLANET!!!! WHERE 48 MILLION VEHICLES DRIVE BY EVERY YEAR. Message Line: 844-IWO JIMA
Facebook: Iwo Jima Monument West; spread the word !!!!!

Anyone want to organize a “flag across America” starting in the west and going
to the east for Memorial Day, May 28 2018 where each community displays its flags and support just like in 1945 with the 7th War Bond Drive, where Gagnon, Bradley and Hayes were assigned to visit, speak to raise bonds!!!! The US went crazy over the photo: US Treasury printed and distributed 3 million posters with
visited so many cities. I have the actual list and itinerary they followed those 6 weeks!!! culminating just before the Fourth of July.

It’s an eye opener how others don’t know who the real heros are. My English teacher gave me an assignment, an assignment that i needed to describe myself in a symbolic matter. My symbol is courage and I drew iwo jima. I hope my words and picture change how others see the world.
Godbless and oorah

The first thing I thought of when I read about this, is that soon, too soon, all of the heroes of WWll will be gone. These brave men and women will soon be forgotten as even their children, who remember them as heroes and were taught to honor and respect our elders, especially our veterans. Many of the people coming after us, respect no one. In this day of anonymity, due to social media, et al, people are willing to say hateful, hurtful things. It used to be that if you said something, you answered for it. Signing off, A very nervous Baby Boomer

you sound exactly as I feel. I hope these men are remember forever. my father was wounded just after the battle of the bulge. he has always been my hero. brother drafted during nam I joined marines nov 1969. son joined e army just after things in 190 were ing on. but alsoemember the wifes mothers and daughters who served g spkg s and just being here for all.

The price these men paid for our freedom accounts to much, yet we spit on them each time we go against our own society. Yes we are the Land of the Free, but my freedom and the safety of my family means more to me than a stranger from another country that cant even speak my language. My brother in law is of Mexican decent, he was born and raised here in the US, even he will fight for a wall to be built. This isn’t about race, religious preference or hate…its all about making my front door safe to leave unlocked if I choose too. Its about the existence of America in true American form. I want to know that when my 9 children go out to play they are safe. I want to know that when they grow and get seek employment that there is a job open for them. Its not all about not loving thy neighbor, but it is all about watching after my own. So President Trump, build the wall, stop immigration for however long you deem necessary. There are many who oppose you, but there are many who will stand behind you, and I am proud to be one of them. “Make America Great Again”..she deserves it.

The good people came to this country through Ellis Island and other ports and they didn’t jump the line. They came to build this nation that is to give and not just take. What is wrong with coming the proper way and not dodging the law.

The point that many seem to miss is that the today’s refugees of war, poverty, sickness, oppression and hunger, lack the resources to obtain the means to board ships that would bring them through US Ports of Entry. They only have all that they can do to physically move by land and water to save their families and themselves. It’s time that all of US take a deeper look upon the plight of our world’s immigrants…beyond the American, Corporate media! When I walk in another’s steps, I will know of the their journey…until then, I can only rightfully speak of my own.

Amen, and Amen Wendy. You said it better than I could. I am a baby boomer – 1946 -. I come from a long line of proud Americans (all the way back to the Mayflower). My Dad put together airplanes for our guys over there. Each part he attached to the plane had his name on it. It was his way of saying, THANK YOU! We as Americans need to stand together and take out country back from those who have no respect for what it stands for. As one of our greatest Presidents in his Gettysburg Address said; to ensure the survival of America’s representative democracy: that “government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”